Those who wonder about the differences between many Stiga household/office ping-pong tables of the same category, don’t miss this Stiga Advantage vs ST3600 Review.
The two tables appear to be identical at first glance. Still, if you pay attention to small details, it’s undeniable that Stiga Advantage is the better one. Apart from the finely-manufactured surface that offers exclusive playability for beginners, the table is lightweight and easy to move.
Except for the weight, ST3600 shares a ton of similarities with Advantage. If the weight and a couple of advantages that go with it don’t seem like a game-changer for you, then purchasing whichever would be pretty much the same.
Keep following to know why I concluded that Stiga Advantage wins against ST3600.
Stiga Advantage Vs ST3600: Comparison Chart
Stiga Advantage Vs ST3600: Differences
The winner: Stiga Advantage (2-0)
Advantage’s weight and caster wheels made it the final winner of this debate. Apart from the weight, Advantage and ST3600 are significantly identical.
Weight
The winner: Stiga Advantage
The Advantage is 52kg in weight, notably lighter than ST3600. A 15mm thickness tabletop is meant for recreation tables, and with these tables, lightweight should be a priority. A light table enables smoother movements and helps users save many efforts handling it.
There’s an unwritten rule that the heavier one ping-pong table is, the sturdier and more durable it appears to be. This is accurate to some extent. However, with a recreation table, the tabletop can’t be too heavy, which is why the frame and the undercarriage are lightweight.
As a result, I’m a bit confused with ST3600’s unusual weight for a recreational-purpose-only table. It’s unlikely that the heavy materials can improve the playability because what decides this factor is the tabletop, which is only 15mm with ST3600. On the contrary, it will only add more problems to the maneuverability.
All in all, I’m more than satisfied with Advantage’s compact weight.
Locking caster wheels
The winner: Stiga Advantage
Why do I include the caster wheel’s size in the list of differences even though the two tables’ wheels are the same? This is due to the ratio between the weight and the locking wheels.
Both tables have 3in caster wheels, the standard wheel size for ping-pong tables of 18mm and 25mm thickness. Each wheel goes with a locking system that avoids tilting during playing and storage.
These 3in caster wheels, when accompanied by the 52kg weight of Advantage, make the movements extra smooth. More often, 52-kg-or-so tables feature 2inch wheels to cut the production budget while still ensuring safety.
It seems like Stiga has been determined to impress users by featuring large-size wheels for Advantage; this strategy has proven successful with me.
And then we have ST3600, with its bulky 90kg weight mounting on the same 3in caster wheels. Many tables of such weight have 3in caster wheels, too; nonetheless, most belong to the thicker tabletops. This weight-wheel ratio also suggests lower manoeuvrability than Advantage.
So while the caster wheels are identical, I shall name Advantage as the winner here.
Stiga Advantage Vs ST3600: Similarities
Dimension
Both tables have a dimension of 108″L x 60″W x 30″H – the MDF-approved tournament size. That means you should prepare a space wide enough for the table to fit in and for players to move around it comfortably.
If you’re worried this dimension can be unfit for your household/office’s storage, don’t be. You can separate both tables into two halves with four wheels going with each half.
Just my two cents, you’d better avoid storing tables inside garages or basements. I know this idea is tempting as those places seem ideal for taking up unused stuff. Still, the humidity there can degenerate tables in the long run. So think about space to store tables as well before purchasing one.
Easy to assemble
+Pre-assembled parts
Stiga advertises that their tables are 95% pre-assembled and can be put together in no more than 20 minutes.
There’s indeed nothing tricky about puzzling parts together as the guideline is easy to follow. But because I did the setting-up without others’ help, it took me far more than 20 minutes to finish the job.
So I recommend that you ask for help to quicken this step. Also, if you decide to purchase ST3600, don’t be surprised if it takes two adults more time and effort to handle it.
+Net and Post Set
Both Advantage and ST3600 follow the current trend of replacing traditional net designs with the net and post sets because of their convenience. The net setup can be done within seconds without confusing newbies with this latest design.
However, be aware that this design has a downside, too. Unlike fixed or screw-on net, net and posts can sometimes be challenging to adjust the tension.
I know brands nowadays hype about the convenience of net and post sets, but I’m not a fan whatsoever. If you include the times you have to re-adjust the net tension, I will see why I refuse to use the term ‘’convenient’’ to describe it.
+Auto-folding legs
Stiga minimizes customers’ handling of their tables by adding this handy feature. As sturdy as these steel legs may be, you won’t have to wrestle to get them nested up or get ready for playing, thanks to the auto-folding mechanism.
Other utilities
+Playback mode
A signature feature of recreation tables that Advantage and ST3600 possess. Skilled players can refrain from using solo mode as the bounciness is unfamiliar to playing with real opponents.
However, it’s the opposite for beginners. Newbies can get used to reacting to strikes with playback mode. To transform your table into the solo-player mode, use the safety latch system to fixate half of the table in a straight-up position. And there you go!
+Steel aprons
The surface will warp up without the security of these steel aprons. These boys keep the surface in good shape over time and provide a stylish touch-up to the plain black surface.
Quick Rundown of Stiga Advantage
- Competition-ready indoor table tennis table perfect for your home or office
- 10-minute QuickPlay design comes 95% preassembled out of the box for quick and easy setup
- Effortlessly roll and transport table halves using 3” lockable casters for convenient storage and setup
- Excellent playability with 5/8”-thick table top with multiple roller coat finish and silk-screen striping
- Easily attach and remove net with tournament grade 72” clamp-style net and post set
Quick Rundown of Stiga ST3600
- Competition-ready indoor table tennis table with 72" detachable cotton net with clamp
- 10-minute QuickPlay design comes 95% preassembled out of the box for quick and easy setup
- Excellent playability with 5/8"-thick tabletop, dual-sided multiple roller coat paint process, and silkscreen striping
- Independent chassis with detachable separate halves for multi-use and ease of storage
- Effortlessly roll and transport table using 3" lockable casters with 1.5" square steel legs
Product Videos
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References:
- Stiga Advantage from Stiga: https://www.stigaus.com/products/stiga-advantage-table-tennis-table
- ST3600 from JOOLA: https://www.walmart.com/ip/STIGA-ST3600-Competition-Indoor-Table-Tennis-Table/515096699
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